Drivers abusing mobility car parks to be reported to council enforcers using new mobile app

share

Source:

A new phone app is being trialled giving people the chance to report abuse of mobility car parks to New Zealand councils.

A mobile app is being trialled to report the illegal use of mobility car parks in Wellington and Christchurch.
Source: 1 NEWS

There are only 55 mobility car park spaces in central Wellington, and able-bodied drivers keep taking them, as Stewart Sexton who has a permit to use a mobility car park finds.

"In my early twenties, you know, I've confronted a few people. There used to be a neat little sticker out that says 'you've got my carpark, do you want my disability too'' and it was very hard to get off once you stuck it to their windscreen," Mr Sexton told 1 NEWS.

A new survey shows 17 per cent of drivers used a mobility car park when they had no mobility impairment.

"It's probably not a significant number of people but it's enough to cause difficulties for people who are requiring mobility parks in high use areas outside swimming pools, doctors surgeries," said Raewyn Hailes of CSS Disability Action.

Now CSS is trialling a new app in Wellington and Christchurch giving people the chance to report that abuse to the councils' parking enforcement team.

"If someone's in there and we're able to determine that they shouldn't be in there then we'll be able to issue them with an infringement," said Brendan Jelly of Wellington City Council.

The fine for parking in a mobility car park without a permit is $150.

Stewart Sexton welcomes a new app that allows people to report abuse of mobility car parks to Wellington City Council wardens.
Source: 1 NEWS